Donaire Targets His Next Fight: I Want Nishioka or Arce

By Mitch Abramson

There’s been speculation that Nonito Donaire has had trouble making the 118-pound limit for his fight with Omar Narvaez on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Donaire didn’t dispute this notion that it’s been a chore paring down his body to 118 pounds. When he started the weight-losing process nearly three months ago, he weighed 145 pounds, the result of an eight-month layoff from the ring that’s made it harder to get down to 118 pounds.

“I thought that I would have a lot of trouble making this weight because I started 2 ½ months ago at 145,” Donaire said during a public workout at the Kingsway Boxing Gym in Manhattan. “But that was being away from the gym for about six months, so it was a struggle. It was a mental struggle where I didn’t think I was going to make it. But I’ve always been true to my word, where I would never ever fail to make weight. If I say that I’ll make 112, then I’ll make 112. When I say I’ll make 115, I’ll make 115. And when I say I’ll make 118, I’ll make 118.”

Donaire was smiling when he was talking about making 118 pounds, probably because this is going to be his last fight at 118 pounds before he wages his assault on the super bantamweight and featherweight divisions. He’s already talking about moving up in weight where he’s already calling out guys at 122 pounds.

“There is that one guy, [WBC titlist Toshiaki] Nishioka, than I want to face,” Donaire said. “But of course, [WBO champion Jorge] Arce is a great name. Out of all of the division title holders, I would say those two are incredible fighters. I have great respect for them, and especially Arce- he’s ready to go to war. I’m ready to go to war. But we don’t want to look past Narvaez.”

Mitch Abramson covers boxing for the New York Daily News and BoxingScene.com.

[QUOTE=crold1;11312942]Donaire-Arce is a slaughter, less competitive than Mayweather-Gatti. Donaire is too talented to waste time on that fight.[/QUOTE]
this. who ever thinks this fight will be a brawl is retarded. This an old slow arce who will get picked apart.…

Nishioka and Arce would be solid fights as long as he fight them soon.
Navarez is a good fight on the weekend.
Moreno
Agbeko
Mares
I would love to see him fight before he leaves Bantamweight but that's look unlikely.…